Rooted In Tradition

HIGH SCHOOLS - NEXT GENERATION

Teaching Judaism Keeps Her In Touch With Her Jewish Heritage

February 28, 1996|By HAYLEY PEDERSEN and Boyd Anderson High

While most people simply follow their culture, Malka Resnicoff helps teach it.

Resnicoff, a senior at Boyd Anderson, is part of United Synagogue Youth, a conservative youth movement within Judaism. Resnicoff, the organization's religion/education vice president of the Southeastern Conference, is one of the 16,000 youths involved in the group across the United States and Canada.

"I want [teen-agers) to see that Judaism can be applied to their everyday lives as Jews, Americans, and as teen-agers," Resnicoff said.

The passion that allows her to help educate the youths comes from her father, who is a rabbi, she said.

"Many of my ancestors were rabbis, so I guess you could say that I come from a long line of teachers," she said.

Resnicoff believes that teaching is the best thing she can do for her religion. Besides educating youth, she observes the Jewish dietary laws and the Sabbath, or Holy Day.

The synagogue group has many interest clubs within the organization that help youth celebrate their culture. Some choose to do community service or become educated in current Israeli issues. Others choose to study the Torah, which is the Jewish holy book.

Resnicoff said she wants teenagers to realize that much can be learned from the Torah, which is a "living, breathing document."

Resnicoff is not hesitant to stand up for what she believes.

"I'm American all the way," she said. "But I still enjoy celebrating my culture."